Greener UK - playing our part for the environment

The Greener UK coalition of environmental organisations, including National Trust, WWF, RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and Green Alliance, are united in the belief that now is the time for the UK to secure a healthy and thriving natural environment for this, and future generations, to enjoy.

This is a pivotal moment for the environment. We are depleting our soils and water supplies, generating mountains of food and plastic waste, changing our climate and making the air in our cities dangerous to breathe. Our wild places are dwindling, and we face the sadness of once familiar animals and plants fading away from our gardens and countryside.

Many of the UK’s environmental protections have been developed with the European Union, and we believe that it is in everyone’s interests that, following Brexit, strong standards remain in place to ensure clean air and water, a stable climate and thriving wildlife.

We all need to play our part in safeguarding and restoring our natural environment.

How the Government can play their part

The Greener UK coalition has launched a manifesto calling on the UK government to restore and enhance the environment as part of its plans for leaving the European Union by:

Securing the benefits of existing environmental laws and principles as the UK leaves the EU.

Ensuring the UK continues to co-operate with the EU on energy and climate change, and affirming ongoing investment in, and deployment of, clean energy infrastructure.

Introducing new policies and investment that create thriving farming and fishing industries, working with the grain of nature to return our land, seas, lakes and rivers to good health.

Passing an ambitious new Environment Act for England, building on the upcoming 25 year plan with measurable milestones for environmental restoration and high standards for pollution and resource efficiency. (New, separate Acts may also be required in the devolved nations).

Over 180 MPs from across the UK’s political parties have so far signed up to the Greener UK coalition’s Pledge for the Environment.

How we're playing our part

With the help of our supporters and our partners and by engaging people’s love of nature and the outdoors we’re playing our part in initiatives to reverse the decline of the natural environment.

We’re testing approaches to landscape scale land management, working with partners in long-term projects and aiming to deliver landscapes that are healthy and beautiful, rich in wildlife and culture, enjoyable and productive.

We’re also exploring the potential for how farmers and landowners could be incentivised and rewarded for ensuring the long-term future of the natural environment which we all depend upon. The need for a new system of support for farming to replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy makes this work even more important. We’re talking to farming and conservation organisations about what a new system that works for farmers and nature should look like.

Find out more about Greener UK

The environmental organisations in Greener UK are united in the belief that leaving the European Union is a pivotal moment to restore and enhance the UK’s environment.

We love sustainably produced, local and seasonal food because it's better for the special places we look after, better for the environment and tastes better too. Read about our views on food and farming.